The SARU Under-18 Sevens tournament got off to a thrilling start on Monday at Hoërskool Monument in Krugersdorp with SWD, Boland and the Valke remaining unbeaten to stamp their authority on the opening day.

The Leopards, Western Province, Blue Bulls, Pumas and Limpopo Blue Bulls also had strong starts to the competition, which allowed them to book their places in the Cup quarterfinals with SWD, Boland and the Valke.

Each of the 16 participating teams played three matches on the opening day, with the top sides advancing to the Cup quarterfinals and the bottom eight teams booking their places in the Plate quarterfinals.

A number of SA Schools players participated in the tournament including the Blue Bulls’ Arnold Gerber and Andell Loubser, SWD’s JT Jackson, Edmund Rheeder from the Leopards and Cobus Wiese from Griquas.

SWD showed their class from the outset as they thumped Eastern Province 38-5 and then defeated Namibia 26-12 and the Leopards 21-14 to secure the top spot in their pool.

Boland, meanwhile, were forced to settle for a 12-12 draw against the Valke in their opening match but both teams bounced back strongly with Boland registering a convincing 34-5 victory against KwaZulu-Natal and a 40-7 victory against Border.

The Valke also got the better of Border as they cruised to a 47-0 victory and then finished the opening day’s play with a 24-0 win against KwaZulu-Natal.

In the Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday the Valke will meet the Leopards, SWD takes on Boland, Western Province will battle it out with the Blue Bulls and the Pumas go up against the Limpopo Blue Bulls.

KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Province, Namibia, Border, Free State, the Griffons, Golden Lions and Griquas, meanwhile, will battle in out in the Plate quarterfinals on Tuesday.